Interagency Ocean Observation Committee

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The Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) was created by The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 and will oversee efforts to develop the National Integrated Coastal & Ocean Observing System. Led by three federal Co-Chairs and supported by agency representatives and support staff, the Committee will carry out various provisions of the Act for implementing procedural, technical, and scientific requirements to ensure full execution of the System. Interagency collaboration is essential to achieve ocean science and technology priorities and, in particular, for planning and coordination of the System. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the support staff.

ALERT: IOOC agencies are developing a repository of online resources to Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All of the resources can be found here.

An illustration of the components of the Global Ocean Observing System. The national system is modeled on a similar framework.

Under a new charter, the IOOC will assume and expand the role of the Interagency Working Group on Ocean Observations (IWGOO), which was originally established by the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) in coherence with the Ocean Action Plan. This regularly updated webpage serves to inform stakeholders and the public about new and ongoing IOOC activities as well as catalog all previous IWGOO activities.

Providing administrative assistance to several federal agencies, the IOOC support office is conveniently and centrally located at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in downtown Washington DC.

The IOOC's legislative priorities include:

Prepare annual and long term plans;
Prepare an annual coordinated, comprehensive budget;
Establish required observation data variables;
Establish protocols for Data Management and Communications;
Develop contract certification standards and compliance procedures for all non-Federal assets;
Identify gaps in observation coverage;
Establish competitive matching grant or other programs;
Recommend revisions to the System Plan;
Ensure collaboration among federal agencies;
Program guidelines for certifying and integrating non-federal assets;
Formulate annual process for identifying observation gaps;
Receive annual reports from the IOOS Program Office;
Develop a policy that defines the process for making decisions about roles;
and, Develop an independent cost estimate.

In addition, the IOOC is making a concerted effort to engage stakeholders and private industries that receive benefits of the Integrated Ocean Observing System. More information about industry outreach can be found here.

IOOC News

The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 creates the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee. This committee, the IOOC, will oversee efforts to develop the National Integrated Coastal & Ocean Observing System. IWGOO member agencies are nominating officials to serve on the Committee. The IWGOO will phase out and transition to the IOOC, addressing provisions contained in the Act and operating under a new charter.

Small Sea Changes - Big California Impacts was held on May25 and explored how monitoring and understanding the ocean delivers economic and environmental benefits to industries, government, and citizens of California, at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Video footage and presentations from the event will be made available online at California Workshop page. Please check the website for updates and more information.

The event drew in around 100 decision-makers from a wide variety of sectors ranging from energy, water supply and treatment, aquaculture, commercial fishing, tourism and recreation, transportation, and environmental and urban planning. The event included 16 speakers across four panels, from research centers, agencies, and companies throughout California. The IWGOO program office is currently developing a workshop series report that will synthesize the outcomes of each workshop.

DMAC News

The IWGOO organized an evaluation for the appropriate future role for the Data Management and Communications (DMAC) Steering Team, which considered several alternative functions from the current structure. This process included a survey of IOOS community experts, a workshop to discuss options, and the development of input for IWGOO consideration. For more information please contact the support office (202) 787-1645.

Commonly Requested Documents

Important Affiliations

National Entities

Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force (OPTF)
Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean Resources (SIMOR)
Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration (ICOSRMI)
NSTC Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST)
Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP)
Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT)

Regional Entities

Global Entities

The following agencies have designated a representative to the IOOC.

	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
	National Science Foundation
	National Aeronautic and Space Administration
	Environmental Protection Agency
	Minerals Management Service
	Marine Mammal Commission
	Office of the Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy
	Office of Naval Research
	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
	U.S. Coast Guard
	U.S. Geological Survey